Let parents do their job

Article By: Rob Peters

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 7:44 AM

Share

Your Email

flickr.com

We don’t spank my son Gabriel. My wife and I don’t buy into "spare the rod, spoil the child" and neither did my parents. But I have a big problem with the children's rights lobby group currently trying to get government to ban spanking in homes.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Never has a truer word been said.

The Children's Rights Project has asked the Department of Social Development this week to ban corporal punishment in homes. Their reasoning, of course, is coming from a good place, but while I do not condone spanking of my own kid (beyond a light smack on the wrist to stop him sticking his finger in plug, for example), where does it stop?

What next? Will I be banned from raising my voice at Gabe when he refuses to listen to me? Is "the naughty corner" unconstitutional? Is not letting him have his ice cream until he’s finished his vegetables going to be considered torture and a form of child abuse?

Will I be told what I can – and cannot – feed my kids in future?

And when Gabe grows up without any understanding of discipline, no regard for right and wrong, who do I blame?

I am not trying to be flippant (ok, maybe a little) but there comes a time when you need to remember the parents’ rights as well.

Yes, the lobbyists are attempting to curb the actions of abusive parents, but like most of these bills it is those of us who use reasonable measures to discipline our children that will bear the brunt of it. The real abusers will simply find another way to hurt those they are supposed to be protecting.

There are some seriously sick people out there and more effort should be put into finding and stopping them from hurting their children.

Being a parent is hard enough without having to look over my shoulder every five seconds, scouring the law books for what is considered to be acceptable disciplinary actions on my own child.

Any right-minded parent knows that a light tap on the butt is not going to scar their kid for life, while lashing the hell out of a youngster is not on.

A blanket ban on spanking is one step closer to a nanny state. Pass this bill and who knows what will be put forward next time.

Do you agree or disagree with Rob? Have your say in the comments section below.